Quitting drinking

It's surprising how LetsRun is full of self-confessed alcohol, tobacco, and marijuana addicts, despite there being so many running nuts who follow strict diets and training plans.

What's even more surprising is that these addicts get so much "me too" stories and support from the community, whereas a someone who ran an 18-minute 5k will be bashed like he's a total failure.

Can someone please explain what's going on?

It's surprising how LetsRun is full of self-confessed alcohol, tobacco, and marijuana addicts, despite there being so many running nuts who follow strict diets and training plans.

What's even more surprising is that these addicts get so many "me too" stories and support from the community, whereas someone who ran an 18-minute 5k will be bashed like he's a total failure.

Can someone please explain what's going on?

FlyingFast wrote:

Can someone please explain what's going on?

Most people aren't professional runners and therefore do not have to prioritize running performance above all else to earn a living. Would cutting out beer make me a little bit faster? Probably, but how much will my life change if I drop a few seconds off my 5k time? If you aren't a professional athlete but are making all your life choices only to optimize your athletic performance you are going to miss out on life.

FlyingFast wrote:

It's surprising how LetsRun is full of self-confessed alcohol, tobacco, and marijuana addicts, despite there being so many running nuts who follow strict diets and training plans.

I think very few people on here follow strict diets and training plans. In fact I would say there are more people posting who run less than 20 miles per week than who run more than 20 miles per week.

FlyingFast wrote:

What's even more surprising is that these addicts get so much "me too" stories and support from the community, whereas a someone who ran an 18-minute 5k will be bashed like he's a total failure.

Can someone please explain what's going on?

That is called basic human compassion. Try it sometime. Bashing people's 5k times is just funny, no one truly cares.

Running a mediocre 5k time is not a problem. It isn't mean to chide someone's 5k time in jest. People who have alcohol dependency are dealing with true problems, hence the genuine compassion.

I applaud your monastic lifestyle, but you might want to consider letting a little bit of life into your daily schedule. I have two good friends who are professional athletes (T&F Distance and Tennis) and they drink socially, probably more than I do now.

If anyone is honestly trying to cut back on the drinking, try only drinking on Friday/Saturday nights. I did not think I had a problem, but I wanted to cut back for health reasons. Limiting to these two nights has reduced my intake by 50% at least, and it has also made me less likely to exceed 3 or 4 beers on those night as I like to be active on the weekends. It has worked better than cold turkey as I like to enjoy a few beers socially and with my family.

Obviously, people truly addicted need to stop. My comment is for the runners who just want to cut back.

Actually, LRC posters tend to be hyper-competitive youths who easily get envious of people who seem to better than them. Seeing truly screwed up people does not elicit this response since their egos are not pricked.

We see these two scenarios all the time.

Scenario #1

OP: How can I train hard and improve my 5k time from 18 minutes to 17 minutes post-injury? Achilles tendonitis and plantar fasciitis have been making things painful. I got into a good college, tried saving as much as I could, and have long-term plans for the future, but my injuries are making life hard.

Typical response: You loser, you're simply not built for running, any hobby jogger can do that with a bit of training. Why don't you switch to fishing. Anyone can get into that mediocre school, go get a life. Suck up the pain man.

Scenario #2

OP: I drank, smoked, did drugs, beat my wife and kids, and screwed up my life.

Typical response: That was me too. Congrats on quitting. You're my hero!

This has nothing to do with how I think or how I view people. I am simply stating my observations on this board.

I agree with you. People can be downright mean on this board. The "chiding" often isn't in jest. People love to be there to pick you up during the hard times or offer words of encouragement sometimes because it makes them feel good about themselves - they feel superior to you. But most of these people don't want to see you do well. It's also possible that the DBs aren't gravitating towards this thread or do have some compassion, but that's not because all their prior misgivings were just jokes.

Trying again, the 2nd one wrote:

Trying again, the 2nd one wrote:

I'm at day 30. Previous record was 44. My motivation is breaking my streak and an important race in July. Have lost 10lbs. The first week is the hardest but it gets better after that. Also sleeping better...

This is my 45th day. I broke my record! Feel lots better, running feels easier and should get to 60 days no problem. My blood pressure is back to normal as well.

64 days.

Anyone else fighting the struggle? The longer I go the less the struggle.

A moderate amount of alcohol occasionally is beneficial.

I've been a long time follower of this thread and seen some of my behaviors in the behaviors of others here. "I can stop at any time," I say. "I can take it or leave it," I say.

I have gotten up every morning for a week and said to myself, I'm not gonna have any beers tonight, only to get off work, go for a run, and stop at the same store for beers. Even heading out the door for a run saying, "no beer," only to come home with beer. I do drink less when I have this "no beer" attitude probably because I feel bad that I can't/won't follow the original plan. I've gotta say it's been revealing.

Anyway, I think of this thread whenever I feel the need to try again. And whenever the thread pops up to the top, I tend to feel the need to try again. So, though it's probably futile, here's my "no beers tonight," somewhat publicly.

GoatZenHeimer wrote:

A moderate amount of alcohol occasionally is beneficial.

Untrue.

The J-curve is a fallacy with reverse causation at zero or very low consumption. It is healthier to have no alcohol than any amount more than no alcohol.

I hope that this worked out for you.

Try buying a six pack of soda from the fancy glass-bottled soda section in the grocery store. When I crave...I grab a Mexican coke, Guarana Antarctica, Honey Root Beer, or similar delicious beverage.

Let us know how it goes!

Bump

Bumpity bump bump wrote:

Bump

Cheers, mate!

I'll reply again. Well, the high cholesterol reading was a wake call again and I have cut back the drinking to once or twice a week. The last drink I had was a bottle of light wine on Sunday. I can't say that it really was worth it. I am pleased that my desire and urge to drink are fading away. I think the only reasonable scenario is no more drinking alone and simply saving it for social occasions. But even they may not be wise.

The biggest benefit from not drinking is the increased energy and mental function, even when I don't get enough sleep. It's a pretty stark difference from going to bed with alcohol in your system and waking up with that slightly hungover, groggy feeling. Also don't feel the need for coffee to get me going in the morning with the increased energy.

The hardest times to resist are those lonely evenings and weekends when I am putting about my apartment and just feel like it would be nice to pass the time with a few drinks. That usually ends with drinking everything that I buy before the end of the day.

Overall, I think it is the best place I have been with regards to my drinking habits in years. Only two days with a drink in the last two weeks, and it barely tastes good anymore.

Checking in. Still sober. Been 6.5 years now without a drop of alcohol. Don’t miss it a bit. I did have a stressful period at work recently where I took up tobacco again, but only briefly. I’m free of that now too. Stay strong folks.

Yeah, not so successful, but I'm still making the daily vow. Thanks for asking. It helps.

From a recent LA Times article on surfer Laird Hamilton's 10-point plan/opinions on longevity-- from Point #2:

"I used to drink red wine every day — nothing like a good Bordeaux — but haven't had a sip of wine or beer in nine years and have no desire to. I realized that sugar is not good for your body and that alcohol is one of the biggest culprits.

The fact is that alcohol doesn't taste good anyway. The reason people drink is to have some sort of sensation, right? So if you're not into that sensation, it's a waste of time. It's a discipline thing too. My mom once said to me, 'If you can't be true to yourself, you can't be true to anyone else.' As proof to myself that I had the willpower, I don't do it. Bottom line: If you want your rocket to fly, you put rocket fuel in it. I want to be able to do certain things at a certain level. I like the way I feel. On a daily basis, I feel better not drinking."

My personal anecdote-- I do drink moderately, but will abstain 1-2 days per week just to be used to going without.

drinking taperer wrote:

Anyway, I think of this thread whenever I feel the need to try again. And whenever the thread pops up to the top, I tend to feel the need to try again. So, though it's probably futile, here's my "no beers tonight," somewhat publicly.

I also appreciate this thread when it pops up. Maybe we should try to keep it alive.

Someone earlier said they are surprised runners are alcoholics. But I think its similar to runners who develop eating disorders. You try to have so much control over things in your life, and something's gotta give somewhere. I bet most folks on letsrun who drink too much aren't your stereotypical alcoholic and are more the overachiever type in the other aspects of their lives, including running.

Long before becoming a runner I had an eating disorder - bulimia - that lasted from high school until my late 20s. In my mid 20s my bulimia improved slowly as my drinking ramped up. Drinking cured me of my eating disorder. Then in my mid-30s I started running and became competitive about it. I've been trying to reduce my drinking since, but it's hard. Running is something I can obsess over that is not bingeing and purging or drinking. Being an obsessed runner is arguably bad for my health, but surely it's a better than puking on a regular basis or getting s**faced every night by myself.

Cold turkey just didn't work for me. My husband, family and friends are all social drinkers and I'm just not the type who can go to a bar and order water. I wont have any fun and I won't be any fun. Jokes and conversations are much more entertaining while drinking. And no offense to folks who go to AA but I don't want to make AA my new social circle - I want to keep my friends and family.

So for now I'm doing this thing where I don't drink at home - only when I go out. It's working out okay, but hard after a stressful day of work and I occasionally cave and buy a bottle of wine, down it over the course of 2 hours and fall fast asleep. Falling asleep too is harder without drinking but I'm getting better at it.